Derby County striker Paul Peschisolido has followed wife Karren Brady into the Premiership, and so made for an enjoyable summer.

And Peschisolido is now hoping for what will probably be a last hurrah in the big time, having just turned 36 and with new contract talks due.

Peschisolido almost made it back to the top flight four years ago. But his appearance in the play-off final for Sheffield United ended in heartbreak at the hands of Wolves - a year after Brady's Blues had gone up via the same route.

On Monday, he started for the Rams as they triumphed over Albion in the Championship showdown at the new Wembley.

"The play-offs is definitely the way to do it, to get promotion," he said. "She's done that before, and the Blues went up automatically this season so it was about time I had my turn.

"If you could choose to go straight up or through the play-offs, so long as it was guaranteed, you would choose the play-offs every time.

"The build-up, the pressure, the tension, the day - it's amazing. I spoke to her straight after the whistle and she was overjoyed, she knows how much this means to me. We can now both enjoy the next few months.

"That Sheffield final, we were 3-0 down to Wolves at half-time. Game over. I was gutted, it was a horrible feeling, it really ruined my summer. I didn't want it to happen again - and fortunately it didn't."

Peschisolido was as surprised as anyone to get the nod from Derby boss Billy Davies. It was only his fourth start of the season, and his first meaningful one since September.

"He (Davies) said he just had a feeling," revealed Peschisolido. "I played the last game of the season against Leeds and it went really well.

"He just felt that I was going to link fine with Steve Howard. He's dominant in the air and the gaffer believed I would get a lot of bits and pieces from him.

"He gave me the start, which was amazing, more than I could ask for really."

In the 10th minute, the Canadian suddenly got clear of the Albion defence in the penalty area after Howard caused a nuisance of himself.

Reflecting on the chance, Peschisolido said: "I scuffed it. I thought I was offside. I might have slipped a little bit and rushed it, but I felt I was offside. Even so, I should have stuck it away."

Since the outcome, debate has raged about which team deserved to win. Derby were strongly criticised by some Albion players, notably defender Chris Perry, for their basic approach and lack of quality.

The Baggies had the more technicallygifted team, certain-ly, but it was typical of the way their season has gone that they couldn't make it count and finish off the nice approach work.

"Perhaps so," said Peschisolido. "But we are a hard-working team. We are well-drilled and well-organised.

"We had a game plan and we implemented it. Sometimes you need that. Flair's great, and they do play some lovely stuff. But ultimately you need to get results.

"We knew they had match-winners and we had to pay close attention to the likes of Koumas and Kamara. We stuck to the job, got in their face, tried to make it difficult and I guess you can say at times we played a more direct type of football, but the gaffer has seen what is takes to beat Albion and we set about it.

"This season we have proven ourselves to be a better side over the 46 games, and now in the play-offs. I felt we deserved it. I think it's a bit unfair of them to say they bossed us and this, that and the other.

"We finished eight points above them in the league and obviously showed more consistency."

It would be wrong to underestimate Davies's managerial skills, not least in the planning and preparation, said Peschisolido.

"I have got to say that the gaffer's attention to detail is amazing. The amount of time he spends in his video and DVD editing room putting together clips and thinking about games - I think he must do it in his sleep as well. He knows his stuff.

"In the past I thought there was a big element of luck in football, and there still is to a degree. But you make your own luck and the man is special, he really is. He's one hell of a manager."

Peschisolido, who has played for both Albion and Blues, has yet to figure on the Premiership stage.

"My contract is ending, but I've not given up yet, there's still some life left in these legs," he stressed.

"I'd like to carry on playing especially after something like this achievement. I will sit down with the gaffer and see what we come up with."